The Garden of Eden

Owning a Social Security Card is very important if one wants to live in New York without any hassle. Not only does one require a card for employment, you also require it for opening a bank account and collecting social security benefits. But you need to understand that in most cases you are only required to provide your Social Security Card Number and not the actual card.

There are many reasons that you might need to replace your Social Security Card. Some of these reasons may include a stolen or lost card, changes to your legal name or any other kind of updates that need to be made to your card information. But under any circumstances the replacement of your card can be done for free. But you are only allowed to replace your card 10 times during your whole lifetime and only thrice during a single year. If you require a new Social Security Card because of some other reasons like changes in your immigration status and legal name, then those replacements would not affect this limit.

First you need to complete and submit your SS-5 Application. This can be done online and is a very easy process, asking only some basic questions. Once you have filled your form, print it out. Forms are also available at the Social Security Administration office. You can also fill one there, if for some reason you cannot access the one online or print the form.

Then you have to submit originals or certified copies of various required documents. The documents required vary from person to person. You would require documents proving your identity and your US citizenship or your legal immigration. US birth certificate, US Passport, US Driver’s License, etc. can be used for these purposes. You will be asked for further documentation, if you are unable to provide these documents in 10 days. Even though Social Security can use the same documents for the verification of both these things, you are still required to send two separate documents for them. If you are applying on behalf of someone else, you would also require proof to establish your connection to that said person. All of your documents will be returned to you once your process has been completed.

After you have completed the SS-5 Application form and gathered all the documents that are required, you can either submit your application and documents to the local Social Security Administration Office by either mail or in person.

It usually takes 10 to 14 days to receive your new Security Card and sometimes even longer. Even though you will be issued a new card, your Social Security Number would reflect your old one.

There are also many service providers who are willing to fill in the form for you, for a fee.

You can call your local Social Security Administration Office for further questions and inquiries in case of any confusion at any time.